Changes in the air as licensees leave Queen’s Head and Silk Mill
COLSTON CRAWFORD explores news of departures from two pubs by local independent operators
TWO of Derby’s leading independent pub operators have stepped away from a pub each in the new year. We can only hope it will not be the sign of a particular trend in 2019.
The two are Derby Brewing Company, which is moving out of the Queen’s Head at Little Eaton after seven years, and Martin Roper, whose lease had not been renewed at the Silk Mill.
At least these are not pub closures, with other licensees on their way in and, hopefully, continued success for both venues. I suspect that, in both cases, the outgoing licensees may feel they’ve done as much as they could with the pubs, while having plenty of other irons in the fire.
The Queen’s Head is interesting in that it is one of the 24 Everards “Project William” pubs. The Leicesterbased company currently has no brewery of its own (its beers are contract-brewed elsewhere) but it has earned plenty of plaudits for the Project William idea.
In a nutshell, Everards owns the pub and goes into partnership with a brewer or publican, giving them free rein to sell whatever beers they like as long as one Everards beer is on the bar. That’s a tied house with a difference, for sure, and you can see the scheme working very well at the Brunswick and the Five Lamps.
It has worked well enough at the Queen’s Head, too, for the most part and, as it happens, Derby Brewing Company proprietor Trevor Harris sold the Brunswick to Everards years ago.
However, commendable as Project William is, it seems it is not immune to the regular concern of pubcos imposing stinging rent rises. Here’s Derby Brewing’s Paul Harris, Trevor’s son, on his company’s departure from the Queen’s: “It is with regret that Derby Brewing has taken the decision to no longer trade the Queens Head, Little Eaton.
“After the latest increase in rent which came into effect over six months ago, representing an increase of 29% from the original rent, it is unfortunately no longer viable to continue at the site.
“We have very much enjoyed being part of the local community over the last seven years and explored all options including a major extension, to continue at the site, including investment in an experienced team but unfortunately the site was no longer sustainable. “The site will continue to run and all jobs have been safeguarded. We wish the Queen’s Head, the team and the village well.”
I have this statement from Everards: “The Queen’s Head was acquired by Everards in 2011 and since then has been run as a Project William in partnership with Derby Brewing Company.
“They have decided to move on but we maintain an excellent relationship with them and hope to work with Trevor and Paul again very soon.
“Therefore, we are currently seeking a new business owner to take on this thriving pub. We have shared full details on our website at www.everards.co.uk and can chat through the opportunity on 0116 2014260.
“Meanwhile, we have Neil and Lucie, our business owners from the Anchor at Hathern, taking over the pub in the short term. Neil and Lucie are very experienced licensees and will ensure we do have a smooth transition while keeping the pub open to serve the local community.”
All is not lost, then, for the Queen’s Head customers and staff and the parting seems just about amicable: fingers crossed for the future.
Derby Brewing, evolving rapidly as a company, has other irons in the fire. The company has just taken on a big pub in Lichfield, the Pig and Truffle, and is working towards the opening of a micro-pub, the Hole in the Wall, in the former NatWest bank in Mickleover – almost a full circle thing for Trevor, who was landlord of the nearby Vine pub many years ago before taking on the Brunswick and launching Derby Brewing.
The departure of Martin Roper’s team from the Silk Mill seems less amicable; they feel forced out by not having the option to renew the lease from EI (Enterprise Inns), one of the country’s biggest pubcos.
Basically, what’s happening here is that EI (now that Martin and, before him, Terry Holmes, have made the pub such a success) is making it a managed house again.
The “Bermondsey Pub Company”, currently advertising for a general manager, is EI’s offshoot for its fully managed pubs.
In glorious PR-speak, it says it has an: “eclectic collection of pubs, bound together by a common vision to create a sense of belonging and individuality, ensuring an outstanding guest experience whatever the occasion.”
It will still be a pub big on food and with a range of cask ales, it seems, which is one good thing – but perhaps let’s not expect the range of beers Martin’s team made available.
He, at least, has plenty still on his plate. Most pub aficionados in Derby would rate the Exeter Arms higher than the Silk Mill anyway. It’s more quirky, more intimate. And Martin has not long taken on the Devonshire in Belper and The Rectory in Chesterfield, to go with The Crossing in Burton, big projects all.
So there you have it, an eventful start to the year on the Derby pub scene. Let’s see what happens next.
We have explored all options but, unfortunately, the site was no longer sustainable Paul Harris, Derby Brewing Co.